Child poverty Brown backs decision to delay policy until autumn

Gordon Brown has publicly backed the government's decision to delay its flagship child poverty strategy until the autumn, arguing ministers need time to secure funding for reforms that could lift hundreds of thousands of youngsters out of hardship.

- Aletha Adu, Jessica Elgot

The former prime minister said Keir Starmer and his chancellor, Rachel Reeves, had made "the right call" despite some criticism from Labour MPs who think the delay signals a lack of urgency.

Experts have warned 100 children are pulled into poverty every day by the two-child benefit limit - a measure that campaigners and a number of MPs hope will be scrapped as part of the strategy.

While the policy delay has sparked anxiety among many in the parliamentary Labour party, a significant number of MPs say they agree the government should take the time to find the money to make a bold offer on child poverty.